Shock-absorbent heel construction



July 10; 1962 R. J. HAUG, JR

SHOCK-ABSORBENT HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 26, 1960 FIG. 3

FIG.

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m 5 4 m B m 5 7 2 m 9 F .5 1/11: 6 8 I E D 8 H 9 2 r0 BY EENWAY, JENNEY. WITTER & mwnsm ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice Patented July 10, 1962 3,043,024 SHOCK-ABSORBENT HEEL CONSTRUCTION Richard J. Hang, Jr., 35 Raymond St., Nashua, N.H. Filed Aug. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 52,162 6 Claims. (Cl. 3636) of shock-absorbers of the pneumatic cylinder type believed to be desirable in thin heels, not only because of the weakening of the stern by an internal cylinder, but also in view of the lack of space within the stern in a which to position a cylinder of sufficient cross-sectional area. Furthermore, such shock-absorbing devices are generally complex and expensive to manufacture.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved shock-absorbent heel construction for reducing fatigue of the wearer.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a shockabsorbent heel construction which strengthens rather than weakens the heel, affords simplicity of manufacture, and exhibits a low noise level when the wearer walks upon a hard surface.

It is a feature of this invention that shock-absorbent means are assembled within a bore extending entirely through the heel vertically, and comprises resilient means and load-transmitting means which are assembled and disassembled in the bore from opposite ends thereof, thus facilitating their assembly.

It is an additional feature of this invention that the load-transmitting means comprises an elongated relatively strong pin member which extends entirely through a relatively thin and weak stern portion of the heel and into a flared-out portion containing the resilient means, and thusincreases rather than decreasesthe columnar and compressive strength of the stem portion. This arrangement of parts further provides a relatively large volume of material within the flared-out portion for containing the resilient means, so that the heel is not materially weakened by the formation of the recess necessary to contain these means.

It is an additional feature of this invention that the improved heel exhibits a low volume of noise when the wearer walks on hard surfaces, although the lift may be formed of metal or other hard material.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

FIG. 1 is an elevation in cross-section of a heel construction according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded pictorial view of the shockabsorbent means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation in cross-section of a heel construction according to another embodiment of the in vention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in cross-section of a fragmentary portion of the heel construction of FIG. 3, shown in disassembled relation; and

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section of a fragmentary portion of another modification of the shock-absorbent means.

Referring to FIG. 1, a spike heel 1 for womens shoes comprises a relatively thin-lower stem portion 2 and a flared-out upper portion 3. A top surface 4 of the heel is adapted for attachment to the heel portion of a shoe (not shown) in a conventional manner. The heel is formed of plastic, wood, or any other suitable material.

The improved shock-absorbent construction includes a bore 5, which extends substantially vertically entirely through the heel, from a lift-receiving bottom surface 6 to the top surface 4. As is also shown in FIG. 2, loadtransmittingmeans including a pin member 7 are provided, and are inserted in the bore 5 from the bottom surface 6. The pin 7 has a slight clearance Within the bore 5, so as to be freely slidable therein. A portion 8 of reduced diameter is formed at the upper end of the pin, and a lift portion 9 is formed a the lower end by upsetting, by pressing a separate section on the pin 7, or by other well-known methods. A washer 10 of rubber or other resilient material, of a larger diameter than that of the pin 7, is assembled upon the pin, resting upon the lift 9, prior to the insertion of the latter in the bore 5, and serves the purpose of filling the gap which would otherwise be formed between the lift and the surface 6. The washer 10 is not merely decorative, but prevents dirt from entering the bore 5. This washer is not an element of the shock-absorbent construction of the invention, and may be omitted if desired.

At its upper end, the bore 5 is formed with an enlarged recess 11 in the surface 4 for receiving a resilient member 12, which is formed of rubber or other resilient material. initial clearance with the recess, so that increasing compression of the resilient member is resisted by an initially low but increasing reaction. This action may alternatively be achieved by forming the resilient member with a recess or bore to provide room for its initial distortion. Prior to the insertion of the resilient member, a

flat washer member 13, having a larger diameter than the bore 5, is placed in the recess upon the reduced portion.

8 of the pin, for transmitting shock loads to the resilient member 12. The load-transmitting means are preferably secured in assembled relation by means of-a flexible retaining washer 14, commercially available under the name Truarc, which is pressed on the end of the reduced portion of the pin. While the pin may be upset to retain the washer 13, or secured by other well-known fastening means, the retaining washer aifords greater facility of assembly.

Upon assembly of the load-transmitting means in the heel, the resilient element 12 is inserted in the recess 11. Theheel construction is completed by pressing a serrated dished Washer 15 into a recess 16 of slightly greater width than the recess 11, while supporting the heel and the pin member in the spaced relation shown. The washer 15 is initially of smaller diameter than the recess 16, and is freely receivable therein. Alternatively, other fastening means may be inserted in the recess 16 for the purpose of securing the resilient element in place. The washer 15 is formed peripherally with serrations or teeth 17, which project into the material of the heel to retain the resilient member in assembled position, as the washer is flattened from its original cupped form by the pressing operation. The center of the washer 15 is formed with an opening 18, for receiving and guiding a screw-nail or other fastener which is used in fullbreasted heels to secure the heel to the body of the shoe. According to conventional practice, the screw nail is driven downwardly through the heel seat of the shoe after the heel has been glued thereon, and before the.

heel pod has been insertedinto the shoe. The screw nail is preferably selected of such a lengththat it penetrates the resilient member 12 only slightly. The open ing 18 is flared downwardly in order to guide and center,

the screw-nail therein.

The resilient member preferably has a slight construction of FIGS. 1 and 2 exhibits a low noise level when worn on a hard surface, even though the lift 9 be made of metal.

An alternative embodiment of the improved heel construction is shown in FIG. 3, in which parts similar to those of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are similarly numbered, with subscripts a. In this embodiment, a spherical resilient member 21 is used in place of a cylindrical member, and is received within an approximately hemispherical recess 22, which is' formed in the upper heel portion 3a concentrically with the bore Sr: and the recess 16a. A cupped washer 23 receives the member 21, and transmits shock loads thereto from a pin 7a; The cupped washer is'secured upon the pm by upsetting a reduced portion 8a of the latter. The recess 22 is made sufi'iciently large to provide an initial clearance from the member 21, so that initial compresison'of the member by the pin 7a is resisted relatively gently as the member is distorted to fill the recess, but further compression is resisted with increased force.

The load-transmitting means of the embodiment of FIG. 3 are modified to accommodate a resilient lift 24 of rubber, leather, or other soft material. These means are also shown'in FIG. 4, in disassembled relation. At its lower end, the pin member is formed with a cup 25 having an inwardly-projecting flange 2.6, and with a conical protuberance 27 within the cup. The lift is formed with a recess 28 for locking engagement with the protuberance. These elements are assembled merely by inserting the lift within the cup and upsetting the fiange 26.

Modified means are also used for decoratively covering the gap between the resilient lift 24 and the bottom surface 6a of the heel, and to prevent dirt from ac-- cumulating in this gap. These means comprise a sleeve member 29, which is received in slidable relationship upon the stern portion 2a. The sleeve is preferably formed as a cup having a lower surface 30, and with a cruciform opening31 in the surface 30 similar to that of the retaining washer 14 of FIG. 2, in such a manner as to receive the pin 7a in gripping engagement; however, a circular opening may alternatively be provided, which will permit some play of the cup upon the pin;

The heel constructions of FIGS. 1-4 may be further strengthened, if desired, by inserting a metal tube (not shown) within, the bore 5 or 5a, the tube being spaced about the pin 7 or 7a to permit sliding movements thereof. The addition of such a tube is notessential to the heel construction, however, it may be used to strengthen a relatively thin stem, such as is illustrated in FIGS. l-4.

Another modification of the shock-absorbent means is shown in FIG. 5, in which a pin member 7b is upset to form a common nail-head 32. A sleeve member33 performs the function of securing a lift, 34 of plastic, rubber, leather, or other resilient material to the pin, and also forms a decorative cover in sliding engagement with the stem portion 2b of the heel. The sleeve'is grooved at 34 and 35 by spinning or by any other suitable process, for securely gripping the nail-head, and is also formed V the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

l. A shock-absorbent heel construction for shoes comprising, in combination; a heel having'a lower relatively thin stem portion terminating in a bottom surface and an upper relatively thick flared-out portion terminating in a top surface, said heel formedwith a bore extending between said surfaces through said flared-out portion and said stem portion, said flared-out portion formed with an enlarged recess extending about said'bore from said top surface, a block of resilient compressible .material secured in said recess and positioned externally of said bore, and load-transmitting means slidably received in said bore, said load-transmitting means extending downwardly from said bottom surface and upwardly into said recess for engagement therein with said block for transmitting dynamic loads thereto, said block being of a material selected to resiliently support dynamic loads applied thereto in the normal use of said heel.

2. A heel construction as recited in claim 1, in which said load-transmitting means terminates at its lower end in a lift portion, and said block is of a material selected to resiliently suport dynamic loads in excess of one thousand pounds.

3. A shock-absorbent heel construction for shoes comprising, in combinatioma heel having a'lower relatively thin stem portion terminating in a bottom surface and an upper relatively thick flared-out portion terminating in a top surface, said flared-out portion formed with a recess extending from said top surface, said heel formed with a bore of smaller cross-sectional area in a horizontal plane than said recess, said bore extending from said bottom surface upwardly into said recess, a block of resilient compressible material secured in said recess, a pin member slidably received in said bore, said pin member extending downwardly from said recess through said bore and terminating in an enlarged lift portion spaced below said bottom surface, means for retaining said pin member in assembled relation in said bore and transmitting loads from said pin member to said block, said block being of a material selected to resiliently support dynamic loads applied thereto in the normal use of said heel, and a sleeve member secured to said lift portion, said sleeve member being slidably received upon said stem'portion and extending downwardly from said bottom surface to said lift portion.

4. A shock-absorbent heel construction for shoes comprising, in combination; a heel having a lower relatively thin stem portion terminating in a bottom surface and an upper relatively thick flared-out portion terminating in a top surface, said flared-out portion formed with a recess extending from said top surface, said heel formed with a bore of smaller cross-sectional area in a horizontal plane than said recess, said bore extending from said bottom recess, a pin member slidably received in said bore, said.

pin. member extending downwardly from said recess through said bore and terminating inan enlarged lift portion spaced below said bottom surface, and means for retaining said pin member in assembled relation in said bore and transmitting loads from said pin member to said block, said block being of a material selected to resiliently support dynamic loads applied theretointhe normal use of said'heel.

5-. A shock-absorbent heel construction for shoescomprising, in combination; a heel having a lower relatively thin stem portion terminating in a bottom surface and an upper relatively thick flared-out portion terminating in a top surface, said flared-out portion formedwith'a recess extending from said top surface, said heel formed with a" bore of smaller crosssectional area in a horizontal plane than said recess, said bore extending from said bottom surface upwardly into said recess, a block of resilient compressible material, means securing said block in said recess, a pin member slidably received in said bore, said pin member extending downwardly from said recess through said bore and terminating in an enlarged lift portion spaced below said bottom surface, and means for retaining said pin member in assembled relation in said bore and transmitting loads from said pin member to said block, said block being of a material selected to resiliently support dynamic loads applied thereto in the normal use of said heel, said recess and said means securing said block therein forming a clearance space with said block in an uncompressed condition of said block, such that initial compression of said block by said pin member is accompanied by a relatively small reaction force as said block is distorted to fill said recess, and further compression of said block is accompanied by a relatively large reaction force.

6. A shock-absorbent heel construction for shoes comprising, incombination: a heel having a lower relatively thin stem portion terminating in a bottom surface and an upper relatively thick flared-out portion terminating in a top surface; said flared-out portion being formed with a first recess extending downwardly from said'top surface,

a horizontal plane than said first recess and extending downwardly therefrom; said heel being formed with a bore of smaller horizontal dimension than said second recess, said bore extending from said bottom surface into said second recess; a block of resilient compressible material positioned in said recess; means positioned in said first recess and engaging the peripheral Wall thereof to secure said block in said second recess; and load-transmitting means comprising a pin member slidably received in said bore and extending downwardly from said bottom surface to form a lift portion and upwardly into said second recess for engagement therein with said block for transmitting shock loads thereto, said compressible material being selected to resiliently support dynamic loads applied thereto in the normal use of said heel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,159,943 Palley May 23, 1939 2,257,482 Resko Sept. 30, 1941 2,807,100 Windle Sept. 24, 1957 2,825,154 Windle Mar. 4, 1958 2,836,907 Windle June 3, 1958 

